LUCIE—AARON'S WIFE

That day, Bella was picked up early by a private driver sent by Aaron. There was no lengthy explanation, just a short message the night before:

“Nine o’clock tomorrow. Be ready.”

The car took Bella to the eastern side of Austin, entering an elite neighborhood with luxurious colonial-style homes. Soon, the car stopped in front of a white mansion with an iron-railed balcony and a perfectly manicured front garden. Luxurious. Formal. And quiet.

The door was opened by a woman.

She stood tall, wearing a pale cream satin blouse that fit her body perfectly and sharp-cut trousers. Her blonde hair was neatly pinned up, and her maroon lips formed a thin, almost cynical smile.

“Isabella Moore,” she greeted coldly. “We meet again!"

Bella straightened her shoulders. She already met this woman   when Aaron married her the daya before yesterday.

Lucienne Lockwood. Aaron’s lawful wife. A woman from another world.

“Come in. I don’t like wasting time.”

Bella stepped slowly into the living room, which was too symmetrical and too clean to feel alive. Everything was arranged like a stage—nothing seemed human.

Lucie sat gracefully on the soft gray sofa. She glanced at Bella from head to toe.

“You can sit. But this won’t take long.”

Bella sat down slowly, not fully touching the backrest.

Lucie started the conversation without beating around the bush. "I know about your contract with my husband. In fact, I signed the marriage consent form ... for you and my husband."

Bella furrowed her brow. “Do you… agreed?”

Lucie looked at her, smiling crookedly. “Agreed is a nice word. I agreed to many things to keep the Lockwood name at the top. Including agreeing to let a poor girl from the outskirts like you to become a surrogate.”

Bella lowered her head, holding her breath.

“You won’t live in my house. I won’t share a bed, a dining room, or a breath with you,” Lucie continued. “But you’ll be ‘needed’… on certain nights. The schedule will be sent.”

“Like… a medical appointment?” Bella asked, barely believing what she was hearing.

“Exactly. You’re not a wife. You’re a machine. And machines work according to schedule.”

Lucie’s smile grew stiff. She stood up and walked toward Bella.

"I won't bother you. But don't ever think you have any rights over Aaron. Or over Lockwood. You're just a medium. Once your job is done, once you give birth to Aaron's child, you have to get out of our lives!"

Bella stood up slowly. Her eyes met Lucie’s directly, though her body trembled.

“I’m doing this… for my family,” she said softly. “Not for you. Not for Aaron. And not for the Lockwood name.”

Lucie smirked. “Of course. I know that you need much money for your family. But don’t ever think  that your sacrifice will make your self be valuable. We don’t need your heart, Bella. We only need your body.”

Bella didn’t respond. She walked away before her emotions erupted. She knew ..., if she was crying in front of a woman like Lucienne, would only be seen as a weakness.

As the door closed behind her, Lucienne looked out the window with a cold gaze.

"That machine must quickly produce an heir for the Lockwood family," She muttered.

*

********

*

Lucie's front door closed behind her with a soft click, but it echoed loudly in Bella's chest. She walked slowly to the car waiting for her in front of the gate, then got into the back seat without saying a word.

The driver didn't ask any questions. He didn't look back. He just started the engine and began driving westward.

Inside the silent car, Bella sat still. Her hands clenched on her thighs. Her eyes stared blankly out the window.

But as the car crossed the Colorado River and the Texas sky faded into a pale orange hue, her eyes began to well up.

One tear. Then two. Then they all fell silently, without a sound. She bowed her head, biting her own lip.

Today, she had been treated like an object.  

"Lucie, that woman really looked down on me just because I'm poor and need money." Bella said to herself.

She knew the consequences when she signed that contract. But she never imagined she’d be sitting face-to-face with the Aaron's lawful wife, the woman she now had to call “husband” to Aaron, and hearing Bella referred to as a child-bearing machine.  

She took a deep breath, trying to wipe away her tears before the driver noticed in the rearview mirror. But it was useless. Her sobs were too faint to hold back.  

Not hysterical.   Just quiet and painful.  

"Okay, I'll continue with my role. Just bear Aaron's child. And after that, I'll go away from them."

*

******

*

Evening — in Aaron’s House  

Bella changed her clothes. A dark blue satin nightgown had been laid out for her on the bed. The boutique label was still neatly folded beside it.

No note. No message. But she knew, this was her night.  

The wall clock read 9:12 PM when her door was knocked once, then opened without waiting for permission.  

Aaron entered, still wearing his white shirt with rolled-up sleeves. He didn’t speak. Just closed the door behind him.

Bella straightened her back. Her body was cold, but her breath was burning.  

Aaron stood in front of the bed, staring at her for a moment. Then he spoke softly, almost flatly.  

“This is just part of the contract, Bella. I won’t hurt you. You can stop anytime. But, if you stop, you will pay the penalty."  

Bella didn’t answer. She just nodded—slightly, hesitantly, but resignedly.

Aaron approached her. His hand touched Bella’s shoulder, then slowly lowered the strap of her dress from her shoulder.  

That night passed in silence.  

No sweet words. No sighs of love. No kisses that truly touched the heart.   Only bodies coming together out of duty. Not desire.  They had sex like adults who only wanted children. But there was no love there.

After everything was done, Aaron took a slow breath, stood up, took his clothes, and put them back on without expression.  

Before leaving the room, he said one sentence:  

“I’ll schedule an initial checkup next month. You’ll be accompanied by the family doctor.”  

“Yes.” Bella nodded.  

“For the next month, we’ll have sex regularly according to the schedule prepared by the family.”

"Ok."

And then, the door closed.  

Bella remained lying on the bed. Her hands clutched the sheets, her face turned toward the window.  

Outside, the Texas sky was silent.  

And within her, something began to break—not her body, but her heart, which had just lost a little more hope.

"So, now I can have sex without love? What the hell is this?" Bella laughed at herself.